During the MOE's National Education Department Commissioners Meeting (全國教育局處長會議) in Nantou County yesterday, enrollment reform for high schools and higher vocational schools was reportedly the biggest topic of debate, with different commissioners understanding the broad term in different ways.

To clarify, Wu elaborated that the reform calls for retaining the current order of conducting exam-free admissions before admission tests for specialty schools. All junior high graduates will participate in the Comprehensive Assessment Program for Junior High School Students (國中教育會考), and their scores will be used as a sequencing reference for schools with applications that exceed available openings.

The program will also be used as a selection criterion for specialty schools, Wu said, in which the results will be added to the one to three tests that will be issued by the selected specialty schools following exam-free admissions. School distribution will all be conducted together in one phase, without the previous phase's differentiation.

Taipei City Government Accepts One Phase Admission Plan

Taipei City Department of Education Director Lin Yi-hua (林奕華) responded to the 12-year education reform efforts yesterday, stating that as the amended version of the system will decrease the period and process of enrollment, the Taipei City government is satisfied and will accept the reform measures.

Reportedly, there are currently two remaining differences between this latest consensus and the MOE reform measures proposed by Taipei City Mayor Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌). The first is the use of the results from the Comprehensive Assessment Program for Junior High School Students, while the second is the order of conducting exam-free admissions followed by specialty school tests.

However, Lin stated that Hau's intention is to shorten the enrollment process, which could also be achieved through the MOE reform. Therefore, the Taipei City government can back the reform without insisting on the order for conducting exam-free admissions and specialty school tests.

onflicts and Criticisms Fill New Round of Northern Public School Enrollment

In related news, as several public schools in Taipei and New Taipei City have reported opening surpluses, a new round of enrollment was conducted to fill the positions.

However, the enrollment has reportedly caused empty seats in other schools as students decide to try and enroll elsewhere. Certain private schools have reportedly not been allowing their potential students to enlist in the new enrollment process unless students sign an affidavit to relinquish their positions. This reported affidavit contrasts with the original notice issued by educational departments in both cities.

The original notice assured students that they are free to enroll in other schools without having to abandon their original positions. Several parents have said that local educational departments have lied, as their children have been asked to give up their slots.

Private schools are all about MONEY. The quality of education isn't of a higher standard, the main difference is the exposure to other subjects that public schools can't afford. Take English for example, in public schools you get 3-5 lessons a week, in private schools usually about 18. The quality of English teaching is the same, the biggest difference is the exposure.

So it is not surprising that private schools are requesting students to give up their position as the schools want to enroll X amount and have them paying their fees as soon as possible.